Refrigeration or air conditioning system for installation partly without and partly within an existing building



March 3, 1970 D. E. KRAMER 3,

REFRIGERATION OR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR INSTALLATION PARTLY WITHOUT PARTIJY WITHIN AN EXISTING BUILDING I Filed Feb. 4, 1969 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 F l G 3 DW'T' EEIZL Mu We m EYS ATTORN March 3, 1970 D. E. KRAMEIQ 3,498,079

REFRIGERATION 0R AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR INSTALLATION PARTLY WITHOUT AND PARTLY WITHIN AN EXISTING BUILDING Filed Feb. 4', 1969 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR,

Dania] E. Kramer BY "mmwlmw ATTORNEYS D. E. KRAMER ,498,079 CONDITIONING FOR INSTALLA PARTLY WITHIN STING BUIL March 3, 1970 SYSTEM TION AN EXI DING 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 REFRIGERATION OR AIR I'IHOUT AND PARTLY W Filed Feb. 4, 1969 VENTOR IN niel E. Kramer BY Mammal ATTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 62263 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An all weather refrigerating or air-conditioning system having its high side provided with horizontal supporting arms whereby the system may be operatively installed in connection with a previously constructed building with the high side depending on the exterior of the building wall and the low side supported interiorly of the building, by merely piercing appropriate holes in the wall, passing the arms therethrough, and fastening the low side to the arms within the building room to be conditioned, together with means for uncoupling and valved recoupling the usual refrigerant conduits at such a point that the low side may be positioned near the ceiling of the room and adequately spaced from the wall to provide headroom under the said low side with no obstruction in the said space and convenience in recoupling the conduits. As an alternative, the low side may be provided with a centrifugal blower and positioned nearer the wall with the air stream flowing parallel to the wall and, on occasion, this position may be resorted to with fan equipped systems, when the wall of the building is very thick and the arms are not long enough for the preferred arrangement due to restrictions in highway truck transportation of the crated system. Finally, in any case the arms may project from the low side while, in some installations, a single arm may be sufficient.

This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 676,322, filed Oct. 18, 1967, now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The field of the subject matter of this application relates to the conditioning of a room in a building, especially a cold storage room, by a refrigerating or air-conditioning system operatively installed in connection with the said building with the high side of the system exposed to the outdoor ambient temperature regardless of season or geographical location, while the low side is positioned within the room for its conditioning effect.

There has been on the market for several years a system for this purpose known as the Straddle system which has been installed in buildings under construction by placing arms that connect the two sides of the system on a wall of the building before the roof is located in position with the high side of the system depending along the outside of the wall and the low side supported by the said arms within the building. Such a system forms the subject matter of Kramer Patent No. 3,299,658, Jan. 24, 1967. There has been effort to install such a system in connection with a previously constructed building by breaking through the wall, but various difficulties have been encountered.

SUMMARY The present invention comprehends the provision of a system having the characteristics above outlined that is especially fitted for installation in operative relation to an existing building, with the sole necessity of piercing two small (e.g., 4 inch by 4 inch) holes in the wall. To this end, a pair of arms connected to and horizontally projecting from the high side are provided that are fitted to be connected with the low side. Thus it is feasible for the installing engineer to cart the low side into the room to be conditioned and, by any well known means, raise it to position opposite the holes in the wall, while the high side is similarly raised along the exterior of the wall and its attached horizontal arms are caused to pass through the said holes for fastening to, by any suitable means, and supporting the low side, either hanging therefrom or resting thereon.

The latter comprises, as is well known, an evaporator coil and means, such as a fan or blower, for generating an air current through the evaporator to cool the air in the room, the air current or stream usually entering the evaporator through the space between it and the wall.

Thus it is important, if not essential, that the said space he unobstructed to allow free passage of the air and to support the evaporator a reasonable distance from the wall. It is also important that the evaporator be positioned near the ceiling of the room in order to leave headroom therebelow.

As is well known to all familiar with this art, there are the usual conduits connecting the high and low side for the circulation of refrigerant, and, if these were attached, by valved couplings or the like, to the so called back of the low side adjacent the building wall the How of the air current or stream above mentioned would be obstructed and the recoupling operation made very difficult. The tightness of the couplings must be ascertained by the use of special electronic devices for detecting any refrigerant leaks and accessibility of the couplings is essential. This invention, very importantly includes location of the valved couplings of the conduits at the so called front of the low side which latter is supported by the above mentioned arms and, accordingly, may be located near the ceiling of the room.

To accommodate portions of the conduits in passing through the holes in the building wall, the arms are made of angle metal, e.g., iron, which leaves room for the conduits to lie in the angle recess of the arms.

Thus, this invention not only permits the facile installation of the system in operative connection with an exist ing building in the position above explained, but also enables the low side to be supported spaced from the wall but near the ceiling, and avoids any obstruction to the flow of the room air to be conditioned between the wall and the evaporator for entering the latter to be chilled as it flows therethrough. This invention further eliminates the loss during installation of any refrigerant, through the provision of readily accessible extra large hand valve couplings by which positive seals can be effected and the valves will remain leak proof over long periods of time. Such valves materially reduce the friction drop resulting from elongation of the conduits and their arrangement in courses involving turns, which friction drop seriously affects the compressor and tends to lessen efliciency of the whole system, especially at low or freezing temperatures.

On occasion the low side may have a centrifugal blower and be positioned at right angles to the position described above in which case the air current entering the evaporator moves parallel to the wall so that the low side of the system may be located nearer to the wall. It should be added that this arrangement may be necessary if the wall of the building should be exceptionally thick and the arms be not long enough for the preferred positioning of a low side fitted with fans, there being a limit to the length of the arms permitted under the law of highway transportation truck size. Also the supporting arms in any case,

3 if desired, may project from the low side through the wall and be fastened to the high side exteriorly of the building; and there may be instances when the system is of such small size that a single arm, projecting in either direction, will suffice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A practical embodiment of the preferred form of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, where- FIG. 1 represents a side elevation, with portions of the building shown in section, of the complete system in place;

FIG. 2 represents a detail end elevation, on an enlarged scale, viewed from the left of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 represents a detail section taken in the plane of the line III-III of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 represents a like view taken in the plane of the line IV-IV of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 represents a perspective view, partly in section, of the system, on a smaller scale, before the low side is put in place;

FIG. 6 illustrates a modified positioning of the low side;

FIG. 7 represents a perspective view of the low side with the arms attached thereto and projecting therefrom;

FIG. 8 represents a side elevation, similar to FIG. 1 with low side supported on the arms, and

FIG. 9 represents a detail end elevation, similar to FIG. 2, from the left of FIG. 8.

As the invention relates not to the particular construction of the high and low side, but rather to the means and method for operatively connecting them and, especially their conduits for the flow of the refrigerant, the said parts will merely be given general references as will also be done in regard to the building.

Thus the high side is denoted as a whole by 1, and the compressor, condenser and receiver therewithin by 2, 3 and 4, respectively; while the swingable hood that is adapted to serve as a directional guide for the air stream when in the position shown in full lines and as a shelter for a servicing attendant when swung to the position shown in broken lines, bears the numeral 5. The low side evaporator housing is indicated by 6 and its fan and motor assembly by 7. A wall of a previously constructed building, e.g., cold storage, is shown partially and in section by 8 while the adjacent portion of the roof is 9.

Suitably fast to the high side, as by bolting or welding, are a pair of arms 10, 10, that are desirably composed of angle or channel iron and project laterally from the top of the high side assembly as well illustrated in FIG. 1. These arms are designed to pass through a pair of small openings 11, 11 which may readily be formed in the wall 8, and portions of the usual refrigerant conduits that need not be specified because so well known as connecting the high and low sides, lie within the angle of the arms 10, 10, as indicated at 12, 13 and 14.

It will be observed that the low side 6, 7 is (in FIGS. 1 to 5) supported from the arms 10, by any suitable fastening means and that it is positioned near the roof 9 to allow headroom thereunder, as well as spaced from the wall 8 to permit free circulation through the evaporator of the air to be conditioned, e.g. chilled, within the room of the building in which the low side is located.

Very importantly, the coupling of the conduits at the extremities of the arms 10, 10, which is at the front of the evaporator (i.e., the side farthest from the wall), enables the use of valved couplings, whereby the conduits may be closed with the refrigerant charge therein while the high and low sides are separated, thus avoiding the loss of refrigerant and the need of consequent purging of non-condensibles after the coupling operation. These valved couplings may be of considerable size and since as many as six may be called for, the location of the same between the low side and the building wall, which is the shortest distance between the high and low sides, would not only greatly obstruct the flow of the air stream through the evaporator but would make difficult the handling of them due to lack of space. The location of the valved couplings at the upper front of the low side eliminates these objections.

The couplings may be, optionally, flange bolted or screw coupled, with appropriate gaskets, being indicated in the several figures by the reference numerals 15, 16 and 17. Their removable screw caps, to permit leakproof operation of the hand valves, are designated 15', 16', 17'. The caps on complementary valves of the evaporator unit are designated 15", 16-, 17"

These straddle systems are sold as a complete apparatus with the high and low side connected and the system tested and at least partially charged with refrigerant, thus ready for installation on the wall of a building under construction. When, however, there is need for installation in a previously constructed building, the procedure according to this invention is as follows: pairs of hand valve couplings are applied to each of the refrigerant conduits and the valves tightly closed to prevent loss of refrigerant; the said conduits are separated between the couplings, leaving the apparatus as illustrated in FIG. 5. Relatively small holes 11, 11 are then formed in the building wall at appropriate locations and the high side 1 is placed in position with the arms 10, 10 projecting inwardly through the holes 11, 11 which may be sealed with the usual sealing material for such openings in a refrigerator wall to prevent heat and moisture leakage. The low side is then hung from the arms in the position indicated in FIG. 1 (or mounted on said arms as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9), coupled near the ends of the arms at a point in front of the evaporator which, as above noted, avoids obstruction of the space between the low side and the building wall, permits ready manipulation of the couplings, and also allows the low side to be near the building roof to provide headroom therebelow. Cross angle bars, denoted by 18, 19 are preferably fastened to the arms 10' after the parts are in position to strengthen the support for the low side 6, 7; the bar 18 abutting the wall 8 for securing the high side firmly in position.

A modified arrangement of the low side is illustrated in FIG. 6, wherein the front or face 20 of the low side unit 21 is at right angles to the building wall 8 and the air stream moves parallel to the wall. This arrangement is suited to use especially in air conditioning as distinguished from refrigeration with a centrifugal blower for generating the air flow. In essence, this consists in changing the orientation of the low side and locating it nearer the wall, and it will be understood that the coupling of the conduits at points spaced farther from the wall than the low side casing has here also definite advantages in avoiding obstruction to the flow of air as well as facilitating coupling and leak testing.

It may be added that the value of the invention is emphasized when the number of conduits is increased as when a heat storing device, e.g., Thermobank (see U .8. Patent 2,440,146) which is indicated next to the receiver 4 in FIG. 1, is included in the system, and/or a modulating device (not shown) for controlling the temperature within the storage room, is provided.

In FIG. 7 is represented another modification in which the supporting arms, here marked 22, are attached to and project from the low side and are intended to pass through the holes in the building wall and be secured to the high side at points spaced from the outside of the wall at least by the thickness of the high side casing. As this amounts merely to a reversal of the arms, refrigerant conduits and valved couplings, which may be desired under some circumstances, there is deemed to be no need for further detailed description of this modification. The

valved couplings, with sealing caps, corresponding to the couplings 15, 16, 17, and caps 16', 17', 15", 16", 17" in FIGS. 1 to 5 are designated generally in FIG. 7 as 23.

In some instances, as where the room to be conditioned has a high ceiling or where the high side needs to be as low as possible, it may be convenient or desirable to mount the low side above the supporting arms, this arrangement being shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The high side, arms, and refrigerant conduits and couplings carried thereby may be substantially identical to the corresponding parts shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, while the low side 24 is provided with coupling elements 25, 26, 27 in front of its lower edge where they are highly accessible, as before, and cannot obstruct in any degree the flow of air to and from the evaporator. It will be noted that the high side is at a substantially lower elevation, on the outside of the building, and may thus be more accessible for servicing as well as being easier to install.

It may be mentioned that the low side is frequently so much narrower than the high side that lateral angle iron extensions from the low side may be required for the supporting arms; and, further, that, in the case of small systems, a single arm may suffice. However, as these details relate merely to routine operations and are not specifically included in the claims, it is thought unnecessary to depict the same in the drawings or further to describe them.

When reference is made to the front of the low side, the part designated is the discharge face of the unit and when reference is made to the back of the low side the intake face is designated (except in the arrangement of FIG. 6). Whether the low side is placed with its back parallel to and spaced from the building wall as in FIGS. 1 to 5, 7, 8 and 9 or is placed at right angles to the wall as in FIG. 6, the back of the unit may be regarded as operatively spaced from the building wall in that the wall does not obstruct the flow of the air stream into and through the evaporator.

It will be understood that the system of Kramer Patent No. 3,299,658, cited above, requires no couplings, since it can be factory assembled, charged, tested, shipped and installed as a unit on the wall of a building under construction. It will also be apparent that the addition of valved couplings to the refrigerant lines in the obvious location, between the low side 5 and the wall 1, would result in their being inaccessible, and difficult to service, operate and test. In such a situation automatically operating valved couplings might be resorted to, but such couplings do no securely or reliably hold charges of certain refrigerants now in use, such the Freons, and particularly the F502 refrigerants generally used in low temperature applications, which are very prone to leak except with positively tight seals, and are also very expensive.

By bringing all separable conduit ends to points farther from the building wall than the adjacent low (or high, FIG. 7) side it becomes practical to use hand valve couplings in which the sealing of the valve is positive and leakproof over long periods of time. The operating stems of the valves, covered by the caps 15', 16' and 17, are easily operative to provide tight seals, easy coupling and uncoupling and leak testing. Said caps provide additional security against possible slow leaks through the packing surrounding the valve stems, ensuring against loss of refrigerant charge over long periods of time after installation and coupling of the system. The conduits and valves in the system described herein are preferably larger than normal in order to minimize the friction loss due to extra length of the lines but the additional cost of such larger conduits and lines is fully justified by the great practical advantages explained above.

What I claim is:

1. In a refrigerating or air-conditioning system of the type in which the high side and the low side are connected by refrigerant conduits and supported by at least one arm resting on a building wall with the high side outdoors and the low side indoors and operatively spaced from the building Wall, the improvements which comprise, at least one supporting arm fixed to one of said sides and extend ing freely therefrom, the other of said sides being attachable adjacent the free end of said arm when said arm has been passed through a hole in the building wall, at least one refrigerant conduit extending from said one side to a point adjacent the edge of said other side farthest from said wall, at least one complementary refrigerant conduit extending from said other side to the same point, and means on said refrigerant conduits at said point for uncoupling and recoupling the conduits.

2. A system of the type defined in claim 1, in which the coupling and recoupling means consists of hand valve couplings.

3. A system as defined in claim 1, in which there are two arms fastened to and projecting horizontally from the high side and adapted to pass through holes in the building wall and support the low side, and in which the said conduit coupling and recoupling means are located at points spaced farther from the wall than any part of the low side.

4. A system as defined in claim 3 in which the low side is located above the supporting arms.

5. A system as defined in claim 3, in which the said conduits are larger than corresponding conduits normally used between high and low side units connected along substantially direct lines.

6, A system as defined in claim 5, in which the coupling and recoupling means consists of hand valve couplings.

7. A system as defined in claim 3, in which the two arms are composed of angle metal, are spaced apart substantially the width of the low side, and carry portions of the said conduits at least partially embraced therewithin.

8. A system as defined in claim 1, in which there are two arms fastened to and projecting horizontally from the low side and adapted to pass through holes in the building wall and support the high side as well as the said conduit uncoupling and recoupling means.

9. A system as defined in claim 1, in which the high side and low side are supported respectively outdoors and indoors of a building wall by means connected to one side, the said last named means hearing at least one hand valve coupling means at the opposite side of the Wall from the part of the system to which it is connected.

10. A system as defined in claim 1, in which the back of the low side is disposed substantially parallel to the building wall and spaced therefrom.

11. A system as defined in claim 1, in which the back of the low side is disposed substantially at a right angle to the building wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,007,288 7/ 1935 Thompson 62299 2,712,737 7/1955 Palmer 62263 3,225,562 12/1965 Kramer 62263 3,299,658 1/1967 Kramer 62263 FOREIGN PATENTS 965,890 2/ 1950 France.

WILLIAM J. WYE, Primary Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 62299 

